The training courtyard was quiet except for the rhythmic sound of Ishita's breathing. Sweat clung to her forehead, her chest rose and fell heavily, and her crimson aura flickered in faint bursts—sometimes steady, sometimes wild.
Li Wei stood nearby, arms folded, his gaze sharp as a hawk. "Again," he ordered.
Ishita's jaw clenched. She raised her hands, focusing on the swirling storm inside her chest. Flames burst around her fingers, unstable at first, but then compressed into a sphere of scarlet light. It trembled violently, threatening to break apart.
"Steady your breath," Li Wei said calmly. "Your anger fuels it, but your heart must shape it."
The flame steadied.
A small smile tugged at Ishita's lips—until suddenly, her concentration faltered. The flame burst apart, exploding into sparks that scorched the ground around her. She stumbled back, gasping, her knees hitting the dirt.
"Damn it!" she cursed, fists trembling.
Before Li Wei could respond, a familiar voice cut through the air.
"Hey, don't push yourself to death."
Ishita turned, panting, to see Rehan leaning casually against the courtyard wall. His clothes were still dust-stained from constant patrols, but his eyes held a quiet warmth.
"You…" Ishita muttered, half embarrassed.
Rehan grinned faintly. "You're making the ground look worse than the demons did."
"Shut up," she snapped, though a small blush crept onto her face.
Li Wei glanced at them both, then spoke. "Enough for today. Rest, Ishita. Scarlet is not mastered in a week—it is mastered in a lifetime." He turned to Rehan, his gaze unreadable. "Stay with her. Sometimes, the best training is not battle, but bonds."
With that, the Soul Wielder vanished in a flicker of white flame, leaving the two alone.
---
A Quiet Moment
The silence stretched for a while. Ishita sat on the cracked stone, staring at her trembling hands. Rehan slowly walked over, crouching in front of her.
"You almost had it," he said softly. "That last one… it looked solid."
Ishita shook her head. "Almost isn't enough. If I fail in battle, people die. My parents… Paris… I can't…" Her voice cracked, eyes burning with unshed tears. "I can't let it happen again."
Rehan hesitated, then gently placed a hand over hers. His grip was warm, grounding.
"You won't," he said firmly. "Because you're not alone anymore. You've got me, Akira, Ethan… even Li Wei. We'll cover each other's backs. That's what bonds are for."
Ishita stared at him, startled by the certainty in his tone. For a moment, the storm in her chest eased. Her lips trembled, but she managed a small nod.
"Idiot," she whispered. "Why are you always trying to sound cool?"
Rehan smirked. "Because sometimes it actually works."
---
Ethan's Return
That evening, the group gathered inside the central infirmary. Ethan sat propped up on a bed, his body wrapped in fresh bandages but his eyes lively again. Akira sat beside him, arms crossed, but the tension in his shoulders had finally eased.
"You look like hell," Rehan remarked.
Ethan chuckled, though it turned into a wince. "Better than looking like a corpse."
Akira's gaze sharpened, his voice carrying that protective edge. "Don't joke about that. Not with me."
Ethan gave him a soft smile. "Akira… I survived because you came. Just like old times, right?"
Rehan raised an eyebrow. "Old times?"
Ethan and Akira exchanged a glance, a flicker of memory passing between them. Then Ethan chuckled. "That's a story for another day."
Akira grunted. "Soon. They deserve to know."
---
A Night of Promises
Later, as the city slept under a fragile peace, Rehan and Ishita sat atop a half-rebuilt tower, the moonlight casting silver across the ruins.
"Do you ever wonder," Ishita asked quietly, "if we're strong enough? Against them?"
Rehan leaned back, gazing at the stars. "Every damn day."
She turned to him, surprised. "Then how do you keep fighting?"
He closed his eyes for a moment. Memories of battles, of screams, of almost losing everyone, rushed through his mind. His fist tightened against the stone.
"Because if I stop, then all of this… everyone who died… means nothing. I don't want their sacrifice to fade into ash." He turned his gaze to her, eyes burning with quiet resolve. "And I don't want to lose anyone else—especially you."
Ishita's heart skipped. She quickly looked away, her cheeks burning, but a small, fragile smile curved her lips.
"Then promise me," she whispered. "Promise you'll be there when the Scarlet rages again."
Rehan extended his fist. "Always."
Hesitating only for a heartbeat, Ishita bumped her fist against his. Their auras flickered faintly in unison—red and gold intertwining under the night sky.
And for the first time since Paris burned, Ishita felt hope ignite inside her.
---